We have
received news of the assassination of three prominent trade union leaders in
Venezuela. Their comrades point the finger at the bosses in the Colombian
owned Alpina factory, where the workers are on struggle and where the three
killed comrades were coming from. They also point out the responsibility of
Didalco Boliviar, former governor of Aragua, defeated in the regional
elections last week. Didalco, was elected on a Bolivarian ticket but then
joined the opposition, and was known for his support for the bosses and the
use of the regional police against the workers. The International Marxist
Tendency unites its voice to the condemnation of these killings and calls on
the Venezuelan working class to stay firm, organise and continue the struggle
for socialism, as well as to join all the protest actions that are being
prepared. Below we reproduce the statement of the CMR and FRETECO
CMR and
FRETECO condemn the fascist killing of trade unionists in Aragua
In the
early hours of today, Friday, November 28, we have learnt about the
assassination of Richard Gallardo, Luis Hernandez and Carlos Requena, well
known workers’ leaders in the Aragua state and members of the Socialist Left
Union (USI). The Revolutionary Marxist Current (CMR) and FRETECO
(Revolutionary Fronto of Workers in Occupied Factories) we want to express
our strongest condemnation of these killings, which represent an attack
against the working class of Aragua and of Venezuela as a whole. At the same
time we would like to send our condolences to their friends, comrades and
families.
This crime
is a proof that sicariato (political killings) is a real
threat to the revolutionary movement and has been encouraged by the impunity
enjoyed by the counter-revolutionary criminals, who organise and finance
these contract killings. There is no doubt that the limited advances of the
counter-revolution in the regional elections has emboldened the fascist gangs,
as we are already witnessing in a number of states where the opposition won.
These comrades are the first victims in this offensive by the
counter-revolutionary gangs. The aim of this crime is to behead the trade
union movement in Aragua, eliminating its most prominent leaders. Those who
benefit from this crime are the bosses in Aragua and in Venezuela, against
whom these comrades had been fighting for decades. The workers of Aragua,
amongst the most militant in Venezuela will not be cowed and must continue
the road of organisation and struggled which the slain comrades
advocated.
The CMR
demands those guilty for this crime, both material and intellectual authors,
should be arrested and put on trial. We make an appeal to the working class
to organise in the factories and mobilise against counter-revolutionary
threats, through the setting up of self-defence committees to prevent attacks
by the bosses and the right wing which are prepared to kill the workers of
Venezuela. At the same time it is more important than ever to organise the
occupation and take over of factories by the workers in order to put an end
to the private property of the means of production in Venezuela. The best
homage we can pay to these comrades is to continue the struggle for the victory
of the socialist revolution, which they dedicated all their energies
to.
